I was not aware of the HinglajMata Temple in childhood but when we came to India after partition, I learnt about it and got to know about its greatness but had, kind of forgotten it till 2 years back I saw a TV Series called ‘KyunUthheDilChhodAaye’ in which a young girl from Pakistanwas a devotee of Hinglaj Mata. It took me back to my childhood days and I was reminded of the fact that people had so much belief in this temple which they continue to have. So, I thought of writing about it.
Hinglaj Mata is the first Shaktipeeth of Devi Satiof the total 52 Shaktipeeths. There are two in Pakistan (one of which is Hinglaj Mata, the second isShivaharkaray and the third one SharadaPeethwhich is in Pak occupied Kashmir)and rest of the 48 are in India. There is a story behind the Shaktpeeths of Devi Sati. She married Lord Shiva without her father’s consent because of which once, when her father organized a Yagna, he did not invite Satiand Shiva. But being a daughter, she went there uninvited. And the irony was that she did not get the welcome she had expected and was humiliated by his father. In anger, she burnt herself in the fire of the Yagna. All this offended Lord Shivaand carrying her body on his shoulders, he performed Taandav, ofcourse in anger. To save the world from Holocaust, Lord Vishnu cut her body with Sudarshan Chakra in to 108 parts out of which only 52 fell in India and others outside the universe.
The place where 457 years old Hinglaj Mata Temple was built is the place where Sati’s head had fallen. The temple is situated in LasBelaDistt of Baluchistan on the banks of Hingolriver in the mountains of Pakistan and is 250 kms from Karachi. The temple is revered equally by hindus and muslims and is also calledby the name of Naanika Hajjby muslims. In April every year, annual Yatra is performed which is quite difficult because of the hilly and desert area the temple is situated in. Devotees have to go barefoot on the path where there is no Pucca Road but only desert and hills. Devotees have this belief that if they go there with pure heart, every wish is granted by the devi. A surprising thing about the temple is that there is no gate or door at the entrance and not even any idol but only a Pindi is worshipped,just like Vaishno Devi. There is a 10 feet long fire burning there and one astonishing fact about this fire is that Eunuchs cross it barefoot and do not get burnt.
Mata Hinglaj is worshipped by many Kshatriyas as Kuldevialso. It is believed that Guru Nanak Khor, Ganesh Dev, Brahmkund, Mata Kali, Ram JharokhaBaithak, Guru GorakhnathDhoni, 84 mountains of Anil Kund, ChandrakoopandAghorPooja are other places to be seen here. Sufi Saint Shah Abdul LatifBhataiis also believed to have visited the temple because the same temple finds a mention in his poetry. People say that he had offered milk to Mata and shehad appeared before him. The temple remains open from morning to evening and more than 25000 people visit HinglajTemple to pay homage every year during the Yatra.
There are 2 routes to reach HinglajMata Temple, one from Desert and the other from Hill. Passengers walk from Karachi to Las Bela and then to Lairi. After resting at The Howeriverwhich runs 6-7 miles from Karachi, the passengers begin their journey to MawuTeerth finding many rainy wells and sewers on the way. Then comes the dry rainy river of sand. Devotees cut their hair and wear Yagyopaveetat the Chandrakoop mountains near Hingolriver which is 15 miles away. They then express their reverence by singing songs and from there, they reachAshapur, where they take rest and after changing clothes (and giving away these clothes to the poor and needy)they go toKali Mata temple and three wells. It is believed that the water of these wells clears all the sins.The passengers thenrest at the last stop of the mother’s cave and before sunrise, they take bath in Aghorriver and go for the darshan of Hinglaj Mata at the Hinglaj Mata Temple.
It is said that after returning from Lanka, Lord Rama came here with Sita,Laxman and Hanumaan. Also, great spiritual Saint Guru NanakDevji, Guru GorakhNathji and Baba Makhanhad also visited this place to worship.The name Hinglaj gets its origin from the word Hingola which means vermilion. When Parshuram came after killing Kshatriyaas 21 times, they came to mother for protection and she gave them the name of Brahm Kshatriyas. It has also been mentioned in HinglajPuraan, VaamanPuran and many other Puraans.
In 2008, water and power development authority of Pakistan proposed a plan to built a dam over Hingolriver and shift 3 deities to a higher place. It would have damaged the temple site and following the protests of hindu community, this idea was abandoned. Then, in oreder to protect the temple, the Balochistan Assemblydecided to shift the place of Dam, a few miles away from the temple.
One temple dedicated to Mata Hinglaj is in Rajkot, Gujarat also and in the year 2016, few devotees had brought here the eternal flame from Hinglaj Mata Temple of Pakistan.
The author is the Homemaker, Blogger and Author of the book ‘Sayaane Keh Gaye’.
